RNA - A Longmont resident has declined city officials' request that he remove a homemade sign bearing an anti-Muslim message from his front yard after it drew complaints that it promotes hatred.
Painted in red on a wooden board chained to a tree in front of Harry McNevin's home at 1700 17th Ave. are the words: "Muslim's kill Muslim's (sic) if they don't agree. Where does that leave you, 'infidel.'"
People have called the message "hate speech," but Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett said the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects Americans' ability to express their opinions.
"As offensive as a sign like that might be, most of the time a sign on private property is not going to be a criminal violation of any sort," Garnett said. "That was our impression here as well."
McNevin, 83, has lived on 17th Avenue for 40 years. He said the phrase expresses his belief that Muslims are a threat and should not enter the country.
"They're not our friends, they're our enemies," McNevin said. "And as they march up and down in Iran, the Shiites, what do they say? Death to America."
Longmont Public Safety Chief Mike Butler said he and Carmen Ramirez, the city's community and neighborhood resources manager, visited McNevin on Monday after hearing concerns from community members fearful of the language.
Butler said he had hoped to "appeal to his sense of civility" by asking McNevin to remove the sign or change the wording.
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